Return bend



June 30, '1936. F C;n FAN-rz 2,046,155

RETURN BEND Filed Feb. l5, 1933 '7 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR F. C. FANTZ RETURN BEND June 3o, 1936.

Filed Feb. l5, 1933 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 F/G. Z

INVENTOR %0/WQM/ 'ITORNEY June 3o, 1936. F, C, 'FANTZ 2,046,155

RETURN BEND Filed Feb. 15, 19:55 7 Sheets-sheet 3 BY 44g @p/MM TI'ORNEY June 30, F, Q FANTZ 2,046,155

RETURN BEND Filed Feb. 15, 1955 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR ag/Lw Cf.

TORNEY June 3o. 1936. F. C. FANTZ 2,046,155

RETURN BEND Filed Feb. 15, 1953 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 F/GJ.

60 6'9 i 1 I i' 5 5 I.

l I 76.20. in il M f, l, l l H" l i nl' 1| f" E 5- 1 IlmJ ff l 64 Illm.

INVENTOR TTORNEY June 30, 1936. |=l C, FANTZ l 2,046,155

RETURN BEND Filed Feb. l5, 1935 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR BY w A ORNEY F. C. FANTZ .lime 3o, 1936.

RETURN BEND Filed Feb. l5, 1933 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 APatented June 30, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT `OFFICE My invention relates to that class of fittings which are employed for connecting the ends of adjacent tubes in the tube coil or bank in a crackingstill so as to provide for a continuous passageway through the entire coil.

My invention has for its object to provide a construction which will permit the removal of any single tube for examination or replacement Without having to disturb the adjacent tube.

A further object is to attain that result without having to use sectional metal rings or bushings or bolts for fastening the housing members together.

A further objectis to provide a housing formed in sections having upwardly extending side walls on one section and means to lock the other sectional members having upwardly extending side Walls into substantially a one piece housing.

A further object is to provide a different way of constructing the sectional housing so as to facilitate its manufacture.

. A further object is to provide means on the side l walls for locking them together so that they will .remain in position when the U bend is removed,

o and also so that they will be held in position by detachable means at all times unless the detachable means are removed for the purpose of demounting the entire housing.

My means of accomplishing the foregoing objects may be more readily understood by having reference to the accompanying drawings which are hereunto annexed and made a part hereof, in which l Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved fitting, part of the housing being broken away to show the interior construction;

Fig. 2 is a. section on the line 2-2 in Fig. 3;

Fig.'3 is a sectiontaken on the line 3-3 in Fig- 1;

Fig. 4 is an end elevation;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one-half of the housing;

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of one of the fragmentary portions of the housing;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a modified form of l construction, part of the wall being broken away and the remainder in section;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a section taken on the line 9-9 in Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is an end elevation;

Fig. 11 is a. perspective view of one-halfof a modified form of housing; l

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a fragmentary portion of the housing to be used with the forms shown in Fig. 11; f Fig. 13 is an end elevation of the parts showing the method of assembling the same, a fragmentary portion of the tube being shown in this View;

. Fig. 14 is a side elevation of a modified form of housing, part of the housing being broken away to show the interior construction;

Fig. 15 is a section on the line I5-I 5 in Fig. 14;

Fig.' 16 is a section on the line IS-IS in Fig. 14;

Fig.v17 is an end elevation;

Fig. 18 is a side elevation of a modified form of housing.

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary portion of this form of housing;

Fig. 20 is an end elevation showing the method of assembling the housing, a fragmentary portion of the tube being shown in this view;

Fig. 21 is ya. side elevation showing a modified form of construction;

Fig. 22 is a sectior'i taken on the line 22-22 in Fig. 21;

Fig. 23 is a cross section taken on the lin'e 23-23 in Fig. 21;

Fig. 24 is an end elevation of this form of construction;

Fig. 25 is a detailview of a modified form of construction for the housing;

Fig. 26 is a detail View of the fragmentary portion of the housing for this construction; and

Fig. 2 7 is an end elevation showing the method of assembly.

As shown in the drawings, Figs. 1 to 6, a return bend or U piece I is employed to connect the ends of a pair of tubes 2 and 3. Only a fragmentary portion of the tubes is shown as obviously they form no part of my invention. The ends 4 of the tubes 2 and 3 and their connections are identical. The ends 4 are upset so as to provide external shoulders 5.

The housing is formed in three partsone of which has two annular members 6 and 'l adapted to encircle the ends of the tubes 2 and 3. The annular portions I5A and 'I arf connected by a web which prevents them from separating when subjected to pressure which inevitably occurs when they are in use and the U bend I is removed to permit access to the interior of the tubes 2 and 3.

Upwardly extending side walls 8 and 9 are formed on one side of each of the annular portions. The other sections I0 and II of the housing consist of segmental portions I2 which are tted to the interior of the annular members and have shoulders I3 which rest upon the upper surface of the annular members. These segmental portions have shoulders I4 formed on their inner surface which are fitted to the shoulders 5 on the exterior of the tubes. Corresponding shoulders are formed on one-half of the inner surface of each of the annular members and 'I so that when the segmental portions I2 are inserted into the annular members the shoulders thereon and those formed on the segmental portions will form a continuous shoulder, against which the shoulders 5 on the tubes 2 and 3 may abut. Slots I5 are formed in each of the upwardly extending walls of the housing to receive toggles I6 in which I mount set screws I1.' The ends of these set screws I1 engage abutments i8 formed on the outer wall of the U bend I so that by tightening the set screws I1 the end faces of the tubes 2 and 3 will be drawn tightly against the faces of the return or U bend I forming a leak-proof joint.

The tting is assembled as follows: the annular portions are passed over the ends of the tubes 2 and 3, the segmental portions I2 of the other two sections of the housing are inserted intermediatethe tubes and the annular members 6 and 1. The togglesv I6 are then placed in the slots I5, the set screws i1 are tightened. Thisf draws the shouldersformed by the segmental portions I2 and the annular members IB and 1 against the shoulders on the tubes and in turn this forces the ends of the tubes against the face of the return bend forming a leakproof joint. Although I have shown a specic type of joint it will be obvious to persons skilled in the art that no special type of joint is necessary; also that the type of toggle used may be varied without departing 'from my invention.

A modified form of my invention is shown in Figs. 7 to 13. YAs shown in the drawings of this modification, I provide a housing formed in three pieces, one member of which is provided with two annular members 22 and 23, which are adapted to encircle the end s of a pair of tubes 24 and 25., These tubes are connected by a conventional return bend 2|, which is mounted in the housing and has its base seated upon the ends of the ytubes 24 and 25. The annular members 22 and 23 are provided with inwardly extending arcuate shoulders 26 and 21, which are adapted to engage beneath the shoulders 28 and` 2 9 of the tubes 24 and 25.

v I provide upwardly extending side walls` 30 and 3|, which are cast or forged integral' with the annular members 22 and 23. The other two segments of the housing comprise upwardly extending side walls 32 and 33, which are provided with 4downwardly extending portions, arcuate in `cross sections and which are provided with inwardly extending shoulders 34 and 35, which are adapted to engage beneath the shoulders 28 and 29, formed by the upset portions of the tubes 24 and 25. The outer parts of the upwardly extending side walls 30 and 3| are provided with hook shaped portions 31, formed on the corresponding or mating portions of the upwardly extending sections 32 and 33. This construction enables the side walls to be locked together. A pin 38 is inserted in the adjoining walls at their point of junction so that any longitudinal movement is eiectually prevented. Slots 39 are formed adjacent to the upper ends of the upwardlyl extending side walls and toggles 40 are mounted in these slots. These toggles carry set screws 4|, the ends of which are adapted to engage abutments 42 and 43 formed on the external surface of the return bend 2|.

These abutments are directly in line with the axis ofthe tubes sol that the pressure exerted is in direct line with the tube center.

The modied form oi' my device is assembled in the following manner. The tubes 24 and 25 are passed upwardly through the annular memcarry set screws 61 adapted to engage abutments'V viitted into the slots, and the set screws tightened up. Obviously this will draw the annular members upwardly against the shoulders on the tubes, and this will bring the tubes tightly against the face of the return bend sothat a leak-proof joint will be formed. y

By constructing the upwardly extending walls in the manner described and clearly illustrated l5` in Fig. 13, it is apparent that any tendency on their part to spread is completely overcome and no longitudinal movement is possible for them, thus insuring that the ends of the tubes will be held rigid after the U bend is removed for the 20 purpose of cleaning the accumulation of coke from the inside of the tubes, which, as is well known, is frequently necessary in all reneries.

Another modified form is shown in Figs. 14 to 20. As shown in the drawingsof this modifica- 25 tion, a conventional return bend 5| is mounted in a sectional housing and is adapted to furnish connection to a pair of tubes 52 and 53, so as to provide a continuous passageway therethrough. As illustrated the face of the return bend is 30 adapted to contact the ends of the tubes 52 and 53, so itwill be obvious to persons skilled inthe art that any type of joint may be employed without departing from the scope of my invention.

As illustrated the housing is formed in three sections,` one of which is joined together by a web 54. The other two are formed separately and each of them has anannular member 51 and 58 which is adapted to encircle the ends of a pair of tubes. These separate an- Inular members 51 and 58 are provided with upwardly extending side walls 59 and 60, which are cast or forged integral with the annular members 51 and 58. Inwardly extending arcuate shoulders are formed on the inner wall of the annular members and extend for one-half of the distance around the annular members. 'I'hese shoulders 6| and 62 are adapted to engage shoulders formed by upsetting the ends of the tubes 52'and 53. The other section of the housing, which is connected by the web 54 is provided with downwardly extending arcuate portions, adapted to be inserted into the annular members intermediate the outer walls of the tube and the inner walls of the annular members 51 and 58. These downwardly extending portions are pro-` vided with inwardly extending arcuate shouly ders 63 and 54, so that when they are inserted in the annular members the shoulders form a continuous shoulder, upon which the shoulders ofthe tubes rest. Slots 65 are formed in the upwardly extending side wallsadjacent to their tops, in which are mounted toggles 56,. which 68 and 69 formed on the external walls of the return bend 5|. I

It will be obvious to persons skilled in the art that by means of this construction the tightening of the set screws will serve to produce a leak-proof joint and that any tendency to dislodge the return bends from the ends of the tubes will be resisted, not-by the tensile strength of a bolt, but by the compression of the set screws,

, thus Iurnishing a type of construction for this 15 purpose which has been highly satisfactory in actual practice.

The means of assembly is almost obvious. The ends of the tubes 52 and 53 are inserted into the annular members 51 and 58, until their shoulders are sufficiently above the upper surfaces of the annular members to permit the arcuate portions of the half of the housing to be inserted yinto the annular members 51 and 58, their shoulders 6|', G2, 63, and v|54 serve as abutments upon which the shoulders on the tubes 52 and 53 rest. The return bend is then mounted in position and by tightening the set screws the return-bend will be tightly pressed against the end of the tubes, forming a leak-proof joint;

Another modified form is shown in Figs. 2l to 27. As shown in the drawings for this invention, a return bend 1|, which is of conventional design, is arranged to connect a pair of still Itubes 12 and 13 so as to provide a continuous passageway therethrough. The return bend is mounted in a housing which is formed in three parts. Two separate annular portions 14 and 15 are cast or forged with upwardly extending s'ide walls 16 and 11 formed integral therewith. The inner surface of the annular member adjacent to the side walls 16 and 11 is prcvidedwith inwardly extending arcuate shoulders 18 and 19. The other part of the housing is formed by two'u'pwardly extending side walls and 8| corresponding to the side walls 1B and 11. These walls are connected by means of a Web 83. The side Walls 8 0 and 8| are provided with downwardly extending arcuate portions adapted to be insertedinto the annular members 14 and 15 intermediate the outer walls of the tubes and the inner surface of the annular members; rIhese arcuate portions are provided with inwardly extending shoulders or anges 84 and 85, which when the arcuate portions are inserted into position in the annular members, lie in the same plane as the shoulders 18 and 19 formed on the annular members 16 and 11, thus forming a continuous shoulder which is adapted to engage the shoulder formed on the tubes 12 and 13. Slots 86 and 81 are provided in the upwardly extending side walls, and are adapted to receive toggles 88 in which are mounted set screws 89, the inner ends of which engage abutments 90 and 9|, formed on the external surface of the return bend 1|. f

It will be apparent to persons skilled in the artthat by tightening the set screws the face of the return bend will be forced into tight engagement with the ends of the tubes, thus forming a leak-proof joint, although it will also be apparent that any type of joint may be employed and the invention is not restricted or conned to any specific type.

The upwardly extending side walls 8) and 8| at the ends are formed with outwardly and downwardly extending hooks 92, which are adapted to engage registering hooks 93 formed on the side walls 16 and 11. It will be quite apparent that when these hooks are in place that the housing will be practically as it'A it were made of one piece. .In order vto prevent its separation when the tubes h .Ve to be cleaned and the U' bend is removed I provide a detachable pin 94, which is inserted in a hole, one half of which is formed in each of the mating side walls. This serves to securely lock the housings against displacevment at any time, and permits the removal of the return bend without any possibility of the housing falling apart.

Having described my invention what I regard as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a refinery apparatus, a return bend adapted to connect the ends of a pair of tubes, a sectional housing comprising annular portions adapted to encircle the ends of the pair of tubes and to be locked thereto, a pair of upwardly extending side walls on said annular members, a pair of side walls having arcuate portions adapted to be inserted into said annular members intermediate the tubes and the annular members, inter-engaging means on said side walls to lock them together, and means mounted in said side walls to contact said return bend and form a leak-proof joint. 2. In a refinery apparatus, a return bend adapted to connect the ends of a pair of tubes, a sectional housing comprising annular portions adapted to encircle the ends of the pair of tubes and to be locked thereto, a pair of upwardly extending side walls on said annular members, a pair of side walls having arcuate portions adapted to be inserted into said annular members, intermediate the tubes and the annular members, a hook on each side wall adapted to engage a registering hook on the mating side walls, and means mount- 'ed in said side walls to contact said return bend and form a leak-proof joint.

3. In a refinery apparatus, a return bend adapted to connect the ends of a pair of tubes, a sectional housing comprising annular portions adapted to encircle the ends of the pair of tubes and to be locked thereto, a pair of upwardly extending side walls on saidannular members, a pair of side walls having arcuate portions adapted to be inserted into said annular members, intermediate the tubes and the annular members, in-

ter-engaging means on said side walls to lock them together, and means mounted in said side walls to contact said return bend and form a leak-proof joint, and detachable means to prevent longitudinal movement and disengagement of said side walls.

4. In a renery apparatus, a return bend adapted to connect the ends of a pair of tubes having shoulders adjacent their ends, a sectional housing comprising annular portions adapted to encircle the ends of the pair of tubes and shoulders, and to be locked thereto, a pair of upwardly extending side walls on said annular members, a pair of side walls having arcuate portions adapted to be inserted into said annular members, intermediate the tubes and the annular members, interengaging means on said side walls to lock them together, and means mounted in said side walls to contact said return bend and form a leak-proof joint.

5. In a renery apparatus, a return bend adapted to connect thel ends of a pair of shouldered tubes, a sectional housing comprising annular portions adapted tol encircle the ends of the pair of tubes and' shoulders and to be locked thereto, a pair of upwardly extending side walls on said annular members,.a pair of side walls having arcuate portions adapted to be inserted into said annular members, intermediate the tubes and the annular members, interengaging means on said side walls to lock themV together, and means mounted in said side walls to contact said return bend and form a leak-proof joint, and detachable means to prevent longitudinal movement and disengagement of said side walls.

6. In a renery apparatus, a conventional return bend adapted to connect a pair of tubes to provide a passageway therethrough, a sectional housing therefor comprising two separate annular members adapted to encircle the ends of a v `pair of tubes and to be locked thereto, an upwardly extending side wall on eachmember, a

pair of side walls, having arcuate portions there- 'on, adapte-d to be inserted in the separate annular members intermediate the tubes and the annular members, means to connect the separate side walls together, and detachable means mounted in said side walls to produce 4a leak-proof joint.

In a refinery apparatus, a conventional return bend adapted to connect a pair of tubes to provide a passageway therethrough, a sectional housing therefor comprising two separate annular members adapted to encircle the ends of a pair of tubes and to be locked thereto, an upwardly extending side wall on each member, a pair of side walls, having arcuate portions thereon, adapted to be inserted in the separate annular members' intermediate the tubes and the annular members, means to connect said annular members whereby the side walls on the separate members are held together, detachable means mounted ink said side walls to produce a`leak-pro0-f joint, and inter-engaging means on said sidewalls to lock them together.

8. In a refinery apparatus, a conventional return bend adapted to connect a pair of tubes to provide a passageway therethrough, a sectional housing therefor comprising two separate mem-' bers adapted to encircle the ends of a pair of tubes and to be iocked thereto, an upwardly extending sidewall on each member, a pair of side walls having arcuate portions thereon, adapted to be inserted in the vseparate members intermediate the tubes and the said members, means to connect said annular members whereby the side walls i on the separate members are held together, de-

tachable means mounted in said side walls to produee a leak-proof joint, and means on said side weils to lock them together, and detachable means .to prevent longitudinal movement and disengageintermediate the tubes and the annular members,

means to connect said annular members whereby the side wallsvon the separate members are held together, detachable means mounted in said side walls to produce a leak-proof joint, inter-engaging means on said side walls to lock them together, said means comprising a hook on each side wall adapted toengage a registering hook in the matlner side walls.

. 10. In a refinery apparatus, a conventional ref turn bend adapted to connect a pair of tubes to provide a pass tfeway therethrough, a sectional housing therefor comprising two separate annular members adapted to substantially eneircle the ends of a pair of shouldered tubes and to be locked thereto, an upwardly extending side wail on each annular member, apair of side `glalls,

arcuate portions thereon, adapted to bey inserted inthe separate annular 4members intermediete the tubes and the annular members, thereby connecting the side walls on the separate members together whereby when the arcuate po-rtions are inserted and the tubes mounted in the annular members, the tubes will be held in alinernent when'the return bend is removed, detachable means .mounted in said side walls produce' a leak-proof joint, internal shoulders on said annular members and said arcuate portions adapted to engage the shoulders formed on said tubes.

11. In a refinery apparatus, a conventional return bend adapted to connect a pair of tubes to provide a. passageway therethrough, a sectional housing therefor comprising two separate annuar members adapted to substantially encircle the ends of a pair of tubes and to be locked thereto', an upwardly extending side wall on each annular member, a pair of connected side walls, having arcuate portions at their lower ends, adapted to be inserted in the separate members intermediate the tubes and said members, means to, connect the said side walls of the separate members to the pair of side walls, detachable means to prevent their disconnection, detachable means mounted in said side walls to produce a ieak-proof joint.

l2. In a. refinery apparatus, a conventional return bend adapted to connect a pair of tubes to provide a passageway therethrough, a sectional housing therefor comprising two separate annular members, eachof which has an upwardly extending side wall integral therewith, arcuate shoulders on the inner surface of the annular portions in register with the upwardly extending side walls, said annular portions being adapted to encircle the ends of a pair of shouldered tubes and'to be locked thereto, a. pair of connected side walls having arcuate shouldered portions thereon, adapted to be inserted in the annularl portions of said separate members, intermediateA the tubes and the said members, whereby the said shouldered portions will regisvter with said arcuate shoulders and abut the shoulders on the tube, interengaging means 'which connect each pair of side walls, means to prevent the disengagement of said intereng ing means and means mounted detachably in said side walls to draw the return bends and tubes into a leak-proof joint.

13. In a refinery apparatus, a conventional return bend adapted to connect a pair of shouldered tubes to provide a passageway therethrough, a compound housing comprising a pair of annular' members adapted to encircle the ends of a. of tubes, and to be locked thereto, a

. plurality of upwardly extending side walls, two

of which have segmental portions to be inserted in the annular portion intermediate the tubes and the annular portions, one pair of the upwardly extending side walls having a web which connects them to arcuate shouldered portions .adapted to register with shoulders formed on the einer surface of the annular portions whereby when the return bend is assembled the tubes will be held on center and in alinement, means to prevent the longitudinal movement of the houslng sections when the-return bend is removed and means detachably mounted in said sidewalls to draw the return bend and tubes into a leakproof joint.

FRED C. FANTZ. 

